Gaznat – EPFL Research Programme

The second call for proposals is OPEN.

Innovation Lab of Gaznat SA in Aigle © Alessandro Della Bella – Gaznenergie – 2023

Gaznat and EPFL have a long-standing strategic cooperation, which involves setting up a competence pole on CO2 capture, storage, and utilization for the production of synthetic gas. Building on the success of this collaboration, a new framework agreement was signed in December 2024 that involves issuing new calls for research proposals.

This new Gaznat-EPFL Research Programme will support two categories of projects:

1. ‘Explore projects’: TRL ≥ 4: Lab-scale prototypes with the potential to progress towards TRL 6-9.

  • Project duration: Up to 4 years.
  • Expected funding: CHF 300-500k (maximum) per project.
  • Expected outcomes: Prototypes of novel technologies, processes, or solutions deployed at the Gaznat GreenGas Innovation Lab whenever possible.

2. ‘Seed projects’: TRL ˂ 4: early-stage projects with the potential to advance to higher TRLs

  • Project duration: 6-12 months.
  • Expected funding: CHF 50-100k (maximum) per project.
  • Expected outcomes: Description and characterization of promising pathways, frameworks, or technologies with the potential for further development towards higher TRLs.

Scope

Gaznat’s vision for the future is to contribute to a CO2 neutral supply of molecules for energy, including and beyond natural gas, to western Switzerland by 2050, with the aim of progressively decarbonizing the Gaznat transport network and the Swiss industry. Pathways include (but are not restricted to) the production of renewable energy carriers and the capture and sequestration of residual CO2 emissions.

Funded projects will have to demonstrate significant potential for application in areas aligned with Gaznat’s vision for the future.

The second call of the Gaznat-EPFL Research Programme will support projects in the following thematic areas:

  • Advanced separation technologies (for example CO2 from air or flue gases, H2 from CH4, etc.);
  • Production of synthetic and renewable gases and liquids;
  • Energy storage infrastructure (for example in rockcaves or chemical energy storage/P2X) and transport infrastructure;
  • CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS);
  • Impact of various molecules on confinement materials (for example H2 in steel pipelines);
  • Systemic aspects related to gas transformation and supply;
  • AI in topics related to the above-mentioned areas;
  • Other topics deemed relevant by the Steering Committee.

Main eligibility criteria

  • The call for proposals is open to the EPFL community as follows:
    • Explore projects: Open to Professors or Maîtres d’Enseignement et de Recherche (MER).
    • Seed projects: Open to the entire EPFL community (faculty members, senior scientists, postdocs, PhD students). Projects must be hosted by an EPFL laboratory, and supervised by at least one EPFL faculty member (Prof. tit., MER, PATT, PA or PO).
  • EPFL Heads of relevant units or Centers are also eligible to apply.
  • Each proposal must designate a main applicant responsible for the scientific and financial management of the project. The main applicant must be employed by EPFL for the entire duration of the project.
  • The number of proposals submitted as main applicant/ co-applicants is restricted to max 1 Explore project and max 1 Seed project per EPFL laboratory.
  • There are no restrictions on the number of laboratories involved; proposals may be submitted by individual laboratories or consortia.
  • Projects should not involve third parties (as main/ co-applicants or project Partner).
  • The roles and responsibilities of each main/co-applicant shall be clearly defined in the proposals.

Funding and duration

Explore projects

  • Project duration: Up to 4 years.
  • Expected funding: CHF 300-500k (maximum) per project.

Seed projects

  • Project duration: 6-12 months.
  • Expected funding: CHF 50-100k (maximum) per project.

How to apply

Deadline

The application deadline for this call for proposals is Monday 17 August 2026 (17:00 CEST).

Final decisions will be announced at the beginning of December 2026.

Successful applicants may begin their project from 1 December 2026 once the research agreement has been signed and all administrative requirements have been met. Granted applicants will have to start their project as soon as possible but on 1 June 2026 at the latest.

Selection process

Applications that meet the formal requirements and that are within the scope of the call will be
evaluated by a panel of experts and then reviewed by the Steering Committee comprised of EPFL
and Gaznat representatives.


The Steering Committee will review the proposals and recommend funding decisions to Gaznat.

The evaluation process consists of two stages:

  • Stage 1: evaluation of the applications based on the documents submitted via the online submission platform.
  • Stage 2: shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview with the Steering Committee during an online meeting, which will take place in mid-November. The date will be announced on the website once confirmed, and applicants are requested to reserve this date in their calendar.

Contact

Research Office

[email protected]

Av. August-Piccard 1
CH-1015 Lausanne

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